Feeding of yarns



Sept.'429., 1970 I R. PARSONS, Q 3,531,033

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Patented Sept. 29, 1970 3,531,033 FEEDING OF YARNS Ronald Parsons, Rishton, Blackburn, England, assignor to Singer-Cobble Limited, Blackburn, England Filed Apr. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 722,679

Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 19, 1967,

Int. Cl. B65h 17/42 US. Cl. 226-8 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE According to the present invention a method of feeding yarn comprises passing such yarn through spaced, selectively operable, stop means, and subjecting the yarn at a position between such means, to a transverse displacement thereby to vary the yarn path length between the said means, the yarn being drawn from a supply thereof through the first such stop means upon transverse displacement of the yarn, the other stop means being closed, and such yarn being drawn from the space between the stop means through the said other stop means when the means etfecting the displacement is withdrawn from its position of extreme displacement and the first stop means is closed.

The invention concerns the feeding of yarns and has especial reference to a method of and a means for feeding yarns to a tufting machine particularly, but not exclusivelywhen a. variation in pile height in the tufted end product is required.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of and a means for feeding yarn to a tuftingmachine which will allow of the production of a range of pile heights in a tufted product in a simple and reliable manner.

Preferably the yarn will be subjected to a transverse displacement of a variable amount thereby to allow of a variation in the rate of feed of yarn.

In one arrangement the yarn is transversely displaced at each of a number of spaced locations thereon.

The invention also includes apparatus for practicing the method aforesaid which comprises spaced stop means between which the yarn extends and through which the yarn passes, and a displacement means located intermediate the said stop means and engageable with yarn passing therebetween, that stop means furthest in the direction of feed of the yarn being actuable to clamp yarn passing therethrough during advancing movement of the displacement member whilst the other stop means remains open the conditions of the respective stop means being adapted to be interchanged during part at least of the reversing movement of the said member.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a second displacement means for patterning purposes, and thus according to a further feature of the invention a yarn feed device comprises a member adapted to engage the yarn and to effect a transverse displacement thereof, yarn stop means arranged one at each side of the said member and adapted respectively to act on the yarn at each such side, and a pattern control mechanism adapted to act on the yarn between the said member and one of the stop means, the said stop means being operable alternately so as to allow of the withdrawal of yarn from a supply source by the said member during a part of the machine cycle whilst simultaneously preventing withdrawal of yarn from the area between the stop means during the same period and to allow of the withdrawal of yarn from the area between the said stop means during another part of the machine cycle whilst simultaneously preventing withdrawal from the supply source, the said pattern control mechanism being adapted, for a constant amplitude of movement of the feed device, to vary the maximum path length between the stop means independently of such feed device.

The invention will now be described further by Way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a first form of feed means;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view of a second such means;

FIG. 3 is a transverse view, partly in section of a feed device constructed in accordance with the invention as applied to a tufting machine;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation of a part of the machine and shows the drive coupling for the yarn displacement means, the view being taken in a direction opposite to FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic end elevation of an alter native embodiment to that of FIGS 3 to 9 wherein the patterning mechanims is replaced by a fixed guide means.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, a yarn feed means comprises two spaced yarn claimps 11, 12 between and through which a yarn 13 extends, and a reciprocable displacement member 14 engageable with the yarn and adapted, upon reciprocation, to effect a displacement thereof. The yarn clamps comprise fixed clamp blocks 11a, 12a each of which co-operates with a respective movable clamp member 11b, 12b the said clamp members being formed on a common pivoted lever 15. Yarn guides, such as guide 16, may be provided if desired.

In practice yarn is drawn from a supply source thereof, say a creel (not shown) into the region lying between the clamps 11, 12 by movement of the member 14 transversely of the yarn the clamp 11 being closed to prevent withdrawal of yarn from beyond such clamp. Upon completion of the movement of the member 14 the clamp 11 opens and the clamp 12 closes, the yarn thus being capable of being drawn through clamp 11, as by the needles of the tufting machine (not shown). At a subsequent stage in the cycle of operation of the tufting machine the forward clamp 11 again closes, the arrangement reverting to its condition at the commencement of the cycle. If desired synchronism of the operation of the clamps 11, 12 is such that for a period of time both clamps are closed so as to avoid the direct withdrawal of yarn from the creel by the needles.

In the second embodiment, see now FIG. 2, a yarn feeding device comprises a movable feed member 21 arranged to move in synchronism with the tufting machine cycle to engage a yarn 22 and to withdraw a quantity of same from a supply thereof, say a creel (not shown), yarn clamps 23, 24 arranged one at each side of the said feed member 21 and spaced apart therefrom, and a pattern finger 25 extending to a position intermediate the feed member 21 and the yarn clamp 23, the said pattern finger 25 engaging the yarn 22 and being adapted, upon movement between various positions thereof, to vary the path length between the yarn clamps 23, 24.

The feed member 21 comprises an eccentrically mounted roller about a part of the circumference of which the yarn 22 passes, the said roller being driven in synchronism with the tufting machine from the main shaft thereof and being arranged, upon each rotation, to draw yarn from the creel. The roller is mounted for adjustment of position into or out of the path of yarn moving from the finger to the second yarn clamp 24.

The yarn clamps 23, 24 are arranged to work in opposition one to the other, one clamp being operative whilst the other is inoperative, and vice versa. Conveniently, a pivotally mounted lever 26 may be utilised, the said lever being movable between a first position in which a first part 26a thereof is in contact with the block 23a of clamp 23 thus to secure the yarn thereagainst, the other end of the lever being spaced from the block 2442 of the other clamp, and a second position in which another part 26b thereof is in contact with the block 24a the first part 25:: of the lever, in the said second position, being spaced from its associated block 23a. In some circumstances it may be found to be desirable so to arrange the operation of the clamps that there does exist an overlap of the clamping function thereof. If required the yarn clamps are independant and one such clamp is movable in the longitudinal direction of the yarn so as to provide a further facility for patterning or variation in path length.

The pattern finger 25 is of bell-crank shape and is mounted on pin 27 so as to be pivotal about an axis parallel to that of the roller 21. One end of the finger 25 is apertured to form an eye 28 through which the yarn 22 passes, whilst the other end of the said lever defines a pattern follower 29 which moves in contact with the surface of a pattern drum 30. The pattern follower 29 is loaded into contact with the surface of the drum 30 by a helical spring 31.

A yarn guide 32 is provided between the feed roller 21 and the clamps 24.

The normal sequence of operation is for the pattern finger 25 to assume a position as determined by the pattern drum 30 and for that clamp 23 disposed between the feed roller 21 and the creel to be open. The other clamp 24 is closed.

As the roller 21 revolves, so the path length between the open and closed clamps 23, 24 increases and thus yarn 22 is withdrawn from the creel in the direction of the arrow A. Upon completion of the withdrawal of the yarn from the creel, the previously open clamp is closed and vice versa. The motion of the tufting needles draws yarn from that made available by the roll from the creel,

and deficiency in yarn being made up by pulling back yarn from the previously inserted loop in conventional manner.

By adjusting the position of the finger 25 according to the drum 30, so the maximum yarn path length between the two clamps is varied and hence the amount of yarn with-drawn from the creel by the roll during a machine cycle is adjusted to give a different amount of pull back and as a result, a different pile height.

A typical transverse section through the relevant parts of a tufting machine having a feed means constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 to 9. Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, the feed means comprises spaced yarn clamps 31, 32 through and between which the yarns 33 pass, a reciprocable dis placement member 34 movable to engage the yarn and to effect a transverse displacement of the yarn between the clamps, and a patterning mechanism 35 arranged to introduce a further variation in the path length between the clamps according to a predetermined pattern.

The yarn clamps 31, 32 each comprise an inner sleeve 31a, 32a (FIG. 9) movable axially of a closely fitting outer sleeve 31]), 321), the yarn passing diametrically through the two said sleeves through aligned holes therein. Upon relative displacement of the inner and outer sleeves to move the corresponding holes in each such sleeve out of alignment the yarn is trapped by the sleeves thereby to give the requisite clamping effect. The relative displacement of the sleeves is effected by means of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 9, the construction and operation of the mechanism being described in detail hereinafter.

The displacement member 34 comprises a blade 34a which extends longitudinally of the machine, the said blade being supported by a plurality of spaced pusher rods 34b each mounted in a respective guide tube 340 for motion in the axial direction thereof and rods being driven from a common pusher rod shaft 36 via links 37 coupled to rocker arms 38 secured to the said shaft.

The oscillatory motion of the pusher rod shaft 36 is derived from the machine main shaft 39, see FIGS. 4 and 5, via a connecting rod mounted eccentrically on said shaft 39 and a linkage arrangement 41, the said linkage arrangement being so constructed as to allow of an adjustment in the stroke of the pusher rods 34band in the forward and/or rearward extreme position thereof. The linkage arrangement 41 comprises a stroke adjustment crank arm 41a pivotally connected to th upper end of the connecting rod 40 the crank arm 41a itself being pivotally supported by appropriate bearing means 411) on a fixed machine frame part 42, a position adjustment crank arm 41c firmly secured to the shaft 36 by a taper pin 3, and a connecting link 41d coupling the crank arm 41a, 410. The crank arms 41a, 410 are each provided with an arcuate slot 41a, 410' respectively to receive a respective pivot pin 41a", 41c" and an adjustment screw Me is provided in respect of each such pin thus to allow of a variation in the position of the pin in its respective slot for adjustment purposes. A locking nut 41 is provided on each pin thus positively to maintain same in a selected position relative to the slot in which it is located. Vertical reciprocatory motion of the connecting rod 40 consequent upon continuous rotation of the main shaft 39 results in an oscillatory motion of the stroke adjustment crank arm 41a about the bearing means 41b therefor and such (iscillatory motion, in turn, is transmitted to the position adjustment crank arm 410 by the connecting link 41d. An adjustment in the position of the pivot pin 41a in its arcuate slot 41a will result in an adjustment in the amplitude of the oscillation applied to the pusher rod shaft 36, whilst an adjustment in the position of pivot pin 410" in its slot 41c will adjust the position of the stroke. The rear ends 34b of each of the push rods 34]) carry a common blade 34d, such blade 34d being engageable with the yarn 33 at the creel side of the machine and before such yarn reaches the first clamp 31. The blade 34d extends between two spaced yarn guides 44, and during reciprocation varies the yarn path between such guides. If, as is the case, the yarn clamp 31 is closed during retraction of blade 34a, outward motion of blade 34d will draw yarn from thec reel, not shown, and thus on the next forward stroke of blade 34a untensioned yarn can be drawn into the space between clamps 31, 32 and thus no undue loading is applied to the pattern mechanism 35 or to the various other parts of the feed mechanism.

The mechanism 45 for operating the yarn clamps 31, 32 is shown in FIGS. 69 to 9 and will be seen to comprise a cam 45a which is continuously rotated in timed relationship to the machine operation via a drive belt 45b and which co-operates with two cam followers 450 to pivot a bell crank lever 45d to actuate one or other clamp. The arrangement is best illustrated in FIG. 7 and consists of a casing 452 which is fixed in position upon the machine framework and within which the cam 45:: is rotatably mounted, and a cam follower housing 45 arranged at each side of the casing 452 and movable relative thereto, the said housings being joined and movable as one and each having its respective cant follower rotatably supported therein. A lug 453 extends from one end of the right hand housing (as seen in FIG. 7) and the upper end of the bell crank lever 45d, which lever is of inverted T-shape, is freely connected thereto. The bell cran'k lever is itself mounted upon the machine framework for pivotal motion about a fixed shaft 45h and the opposite ends of the horizontally disposed limb of such lever are each connected to the respective inner sleeve of the yarn clamps 31, 32. The cam 45a is continuously rotated and thus the bell crank lever is caused to oscillate back and forth about the shaft 45h. Oscillation of the lever 45d results in the alternate alignment or non-alignment of the respective inner and outer sleeves of the clamps 31, 32 and thus the repeated and alternate actuation and nonactuation of such clamps.

The pattern mechanism 35 consists of a plurality of displaceable yarn guides 35a each individually controllable as to position by any appropriate means. Thus, for example, the said guides may be carried by the piston of pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangements contained within the block 35c air being applied to the individual arrangements or not thus to control the position of the pistons according to pattern requirements.

The operation of the feed device illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 9 of the accompanying drawings is similar to that of the arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and no further description is thought necessary.

Whilst generally it will be preferred to provide a pattern mechanism 35 in the yarn feed device, this is by no means essential since such a mechanism will only be necessary if a variation in pile height in the finished product is required. 1

In the event that the pattern mechanism is not required, then a fixed yarn guide such as guide 46 (FIG. 10) would be provided instead of pattern mechanism 35.

What we claim is:

1. Yarn feeding apparatus comprising spaced stop means between which the yarn extends and through which the yarn passes, and a displacement means located intermediate the said stop means and engageable with yarn passing therebetween, the stop means furthest in the direction of feed of the yarn being actuable to clamp yarn passing therethrough during advancing movement of the displacement means while the other stop means remains open, the condition of the respective stop means being adapted to be interchanged during part at least of the reversing movement of the said displacement means, said displacement means including a member adapted to engage the yarn and to effect a transverse displacement thereof, said yarn stop means being arranged one at each side of the said member and adapted respectively to act on the yarn at each such side, and a pattern control mechanism adapted to act on the yarn between the said member and one of the stop means, the said stop means being operable alternately so as to allow of the withdrawal of yarn from a supply source by the said member during a part of the machine cycle while simultaneously preventing withdrawal of yarn from the area between the stop means during the same period and to allow of the withdrawal of yarn from the area between the said stop means during another part of the machine cycle while simultaneously preventing withdrawal from the supply source, the said pattern control mechanism being adapted for a constant amplitude of movement of the feed device to vary the maximum path length between the stop means independently of such feed device.

2. A method of feeding yarn from a source of supply through spaced stop means comprising feeding a yarn between and through said stop means, alternately opening each of said stop means while the other is closed, initiating a transverse displacement of said yarn between said stop means for feeding a length of yarn from said source of supply while said stop means downstream of said displacement is closed, selectively initiating a further variable transverse displacement of yarn between said stop means in accordance with a prescribed pattern while said stop means downstream of said displacement is closed, and feeding the displaced yarn from between said stop means while said stop means upstream of said displacement is closed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,597 1/1934 Cavagnaro 226-114 2,782,741 2/ 1957 Smith 226-114 X 2,858,131 10/1958 Leshner 226-113 X 3,318,501 5/1967 Plieninger 226-113 X 3,451,637 6/1969 Kember 226-113 X ALLEN N. KNOWLES, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 226-113 

